Filing a patent is a costly process, so it is only understandable that applicants would like to cut cost where possible. Translation cost is a big part of the initial filing cost and can account for more than 50% of the total cost depending on the length of the application. Especially chemistry patents tend to be quite long so translation cost is a big issue there.

The main issue with finding a good patent translator is that you need a professional that does not only know the languages well but also is familiar with the technical background of the invention and has a good understanding of the patent.

There are many translation companies and freelance translators out there that offer cheap translation rates for patent translations, but do they have the required technical knowledge and experience in the field?

Poor patent translations will cost you in the long run

Never forget that the wording of the translated patent specification and claims is what is most important when it comes to filing your patent overseas. It can have great influence on the chances of grant for your patent and on the scope of the patent claims as well.

You might save a few bucks on the translations by using a translator that offers low rates, however, this will probably cost you in the long run, due to office actions because of unclear wording caused by inadequate translation or in the worst cast a smaller scope than the original patent due to inadequate word choice in the claims.

How exactly can poor patent translations have a negative impact on your patent?

Wrong information about rival patents or cited patents

Many companies monitor patents of their rivals to check what they are planning. If a rival patent is filed in a foreign language a translation is required. If you want to save cost you can rely on machine translations however they can produce inaccurate translations that give you the wrong picture. To have a sufficient understanding of your rival’s patents and plan accordingly a professional translation is recommended. The same is applicable to foreign patent references cited in office actions. In order to understand why your patent was rejected and to prepare a suitable response a throughout understanding of the reference is required.

We are glad to help you with the translation of rival patents or references. Partial translation of patent specification is possible as well. If you are unsure whether you need a full translation or only a part of the patent specification please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Issues during patent examination

When requesting examination for a foreign patent application the translation will be judged by examiners of the respective country. Therefore it is important to translate the application in a way that is clear and understandable to the examiners in their language. Technical concepts are difficult to translate in a clear and easy to understand way, therefore it is very important to have your patent translated by an expert in the field that is also familiar with the wording that is used for patent applications in this field.

Ambiguous translations can lead to additional office actions and thereby to an overall increase in filing cost. Our translators are all experts in their respective field and have translated a large number of patent specifications, therefore, they are very familiar with the wording and know how to phrase the translation in order to avoid ambiguous terms.

Problems with the translation after patent grant

Even after a patent is granted the translation can still cause problems. Especially when translating the claims it is important to make sure that the translated claims cover exactly the same scope as the original claims. If a translator made a suboptimal word choice when translating the claims and chose a term that minimizes the scope of the claims, your patent will only be valid for this smaller scope. You could find yourself in the unfortunate situation where you spent a large amount of money on a patent only to find it does not cover the scope you were looking for.

Our translators pay special attention when translating the claims to make sure the translation covers the same scope as the original specification.

Technical knowledge is vital for patent translation. All of our in-house translators have long-term experience in patent translation and a profound knowledge of their technical field. As transeuro was formed from the former translation department of a well-known patent & law office, we can look back on over 100 years of translations experience in the intellectual property field. If you entrust us with your patent translation, you can rest assured that it will be prepared by a professional translator with the necessary technical understanding.

If you are interested in our services and would like to know more, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are happy to provide a free quotation or any additional information you might require.

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